We booked Villa Elite expecting a comfortable suite in a charming location, but unfortunately our experience did not fully meet our expectations.
The outside of the building is tired and lacks finishing touches, which gives it an unloved appearance. Although the staff were lovely and friendly, there were very few staff available. The cleaning lady and breakfast cook were particularly helpful and welcoming. However, there is no reception area or information available — just a basic information card in the room. We checked in late and no one was there to welcome us just a note in a pinboard and keys in the door of room.
The breakfast was a disappointment. Whilst the staff were lovely, it felt very much like a cost-cutting exercise, with very little quantity and not much variety. There was a very old toaster which barely worked, lack of fruit and we felt there could have been more choice and attention to detail.
We booked a modernised suite, but the advertised kitchenette did not match what was provided. Despite a large extraction fan, there was no microwave or hob — only a kettle, coffee percolator, fridge and sink. This was disappointing as the facilities advertised suggested something more substantial for self catering.
The suite itself lacked storage and hanging space, with only one drawer available, which was not practical for a week-long stay. Noise insulation was also a major issue. The suite was very loud and echoing at times, which affected our sleep.the air conditioning is however superb.
The swimming pool area was another disappointment. The pool itself is small but the surrounding area felt unloved and not particularly picturesque. It was clean on arrival, but throughout the week there appeared to be little effort to maintain it — leaves, flies and debris were not cleared, empty bottles were left until we removed them ourselves, and tables and patio areas were not washed down. We had the pool to ourselves most days, which was peaceful, but it also highlighted the lack of attention to the area.
Steps 33 (bar) was not open throughout the day, as staff stated it was too hot. This was a disappointment, as a cafe/bar to serve lunch was advertised. There is a great view up there, but again it appears unloved and under-utilised. The one cocktail we had when staff agreed to open was mediocre and did not tempt us back.
Villa Elite is centrally located in Koutouloufari, which is a lovely village, full of charm with great restaurants and atmosphere. However, we found that many taxi companies did not recognise Villa Elite, and there are very few reviews compared with other properties in the area. During our stay the property was not full, and it felt as though it lacked the attention and care needed to make it truly special.
There are some unattractive building works nearby which are understandably outside the owners’ control, but with some thought, parts of this could potentially be screened better from the garden area.
Overall, the biggest positives were the friendly staff and the excellent location. However, the lack of maintenance, limited facilities, poor sound insulation, basic breakfast and lack of finishing touches meant that Villa Elite did not provide the experience we expected from a suite advertised in this way.
